Minimum pricing: Challenge to Scottish alcohol legislation fails

A legal challenge to the Scottish government's plans to introduce minimum pricing per unit of alcohol has failed.

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) took action against the proposal, which it said would breach European law, after it was passed by MSPs.

A Court of Session ruling dismissed the action and said plans to introduce 50p per unit minimum pricing were legal.

The SWA said it was surprised and disappointed by the ruling and would appeal the decision.

Lord Doherty said the minimum alcohol pricing policy was within the powers of Scottish ministers and not incompatible with EU law.

A summary of his decision said: "The court ruled that the Acts of Union were not an impediment to the minimum pricing measures.

Analysis

By James CookScotland Correspondent, BBC News

This is a significant victory for the Scottish government in its attempt to introduce a minimum price for alcohol but it is far from the end of the road for opponents of the policy.

The Scotch Whisky Association and its supporters, who represent European drinks producers, have already indicated that they will appeal Lord Doherty's judgment to the Inner House of the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Ministers have made it clear that they will not introduce the policy in the meantime; they intend to wait until all Scottish court proceedings are over.

But if the appeal is dismissed a further appeal could be lodged with the Supreme Court in London, the highest domestic court of appeal in Scottish civil cases.

And even if the Supreme Court rejected the challenge, one more avenue would remain open, a hearing at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

Policies which breach European Union regulations on free trade, as this one appears to do, can be allowed if they make a significant impact on crime, ill health and other social ills.

But as well as proving that the policy would tackle such ills, Scottish government lawyers would also need to prove that no other less restrictive approach, such as increased alcohol taxation, could be implemented instead.

Other member states have tried - and failed - to make this argument in the European Court before, for example to restrict the sale of cigarettes, and the European Commission's own lawyers have already argued that Scotland's policy would fail these tests.

Scottish ministers still have a fight on their hands.

"The court also decided that the measures were not incompatible with EU law."

Under the Scottish government's plans, the ­cheapest bottle of wine would be £4.69 and a four-pack of lager would cost at least £3.52.

The SWA had warned the measure would set a precedent where health concerns were allowed to interfere with the free trade of goods and services.

In his ruling, Lord Docherty also said there was no need to refer any issues around alcohol pricing and EU law to another court.

He said: "The court was satisfied that it was unnecessary and inappropriate to refer any question of EU law to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling."

'Disproportionate response'

The Scottish government wants to introduce a minimum price of 50p per unit

Managing director, John Gilligan, said: "We believe that responsible adults have the right to enjoy drinking sensibly and that minimum pricing may contribute to an improvement in society."

Alcohol Focus Scotland called on the Scottish Whisky Association not to pursue any further legal action.

Chief executive Dr Evelyn Gillan said: "The alcohol industry has consistently opposed minimum unit pricing as they oppose any measures that are likely to be effective.

"Thankfully, today the public interest has prevailed over the profits of the big alcohol corporations."

BMA Scotland also welcomed the ruling.

Any credible alcohol strategy must have at its heart measures to tackle price and availabilityChairman Dr Brian Keighley, BMA Scotland

Chairman Dr Brian Keighley said: "Any credible alcohol strategy must have at its heart measures to tackle price and availability. Scotland is awash with cheap alcohol and Scots are paying the price with their health."

A spokesman for the UK government's top Scottish law officer, Lord Wallace, said: "The Advocate General made submissions in this case on behalf of the UK government supporting the compatibility of minimum unit pricing with EU law.

"He therefore welcomes the court's decision to refuse the Scotch Whisky Association's challenge, but recognises that this decision may be subject to an appeal."

The UK government said it was still considering whether to introduce minimum alcohol pricing in England and Wales.

The Home Office is evaluating a large number of responses to a consultation exercise about the policy before announcing how it will proceed.